Electric treater



sept. 19, 1967 Filed July 28, 1964 D. W. TURNER ELECTRIC TREATER 4 Sheets-Sheet l i HAR/afs, MEC/7; RUSSE/.L ih/ERM Sept. 19, 1967 D. W. TURNER 3,342,720

ELEGTRI C THEATER Filed July 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3. 3/

Sept. 19, 1967 D, vv. TURNER 3,342,720

ELECTRIC THEATER Filed July 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 5y /f/s Armed/ys #nee/5, MEC/7; @055,514 ci /faQA/ Sept. 19, 1967 D. W. TURNER 3,342,720

ELECTRIC THEATER Filed July 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a? a@ P TG. 10. @19

l l I l r l l l 2/ 6 l DELBEQ l/V 70m/EQ V 5y Hfs Armen/ys HAQe/s, K/Ecw, RUSSELL A62-,QM

United States Patent O 3,342,720 ELECTRIC TREATER Delber W. Turner, Houston, Tex., assignor to Petrolite This invention relates to electric treaters tor treating oil-continuous dispersions to separate therefrom dispersedphase material present as dispersed particles therein. Electric treaters of this type employ gravity effects to separate the dispersed-phase material following coalescence and/ or electrophoresis of such particles in a high-voltage electric ield. The invention relates particularly to a new dispersion-treating electrode structure for such a treater and to an arrangement of elements electrically insulating and stabilizing the energized electrode of an electric treater while supplying access to the insulation from the exterior of the treater.

The dispersion to be treated may be any oil-continuous dispersion of relatively high resistivity containing particles of dispersed-phase material therein. Such dispersions may be naturally occurring or the result of various processing steps. The dispersed material is relatively irnmiscible in the oil and may be an aqueous material or reatcion products resulting from prior chemical treatment of the oil. The continuous phase of the incoming dispersion is an oil of relatively high resistivity. The word oil is used in a broad sense and includes materials of the type of crude oil, petroleum distillates and other chemical compounds of relatively high resistivity.

The invention will be exemplified as applied to an electric treater in which the dispersion is resolved during advance along a plurality of long cells or treating passages arranged side by side and having energized electrodes therein. A treater of this type is disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 175,688, now Patent No. 3,205,- 161, which discloses a deep grid of square cells having upstanding rod electrodes therein attached to a foraminous structure below the grid. This foraminous structure is hung from hangers each of which is pivoted at its top to a suspension insulator which in turn is pivotally connected at its upper end to a bracket in one of the cells. This arrangement permits undesirable swinging of the foraminous structure with consequent displacement of the rod electrodes from the centers of the cells. Also the suspension insulators are accessible for inspection or replacement only if the container is drained. The prior arrangement is also unduly costly, bulky and troublesome in providing energization of the rod electrodes through Van inlet bushing disposed in a separate tubular structure outside the container. This tubular structure opens on the interior of the container at a position where the oil is relatively more conductive than in the top of the container.

It is an object of the present invention to support an energized electrode structure from one or more tubular insulators of relatively large diameter in a manner to prevent swinging and provide lateral stability to the electrode structure so that the rod or other electrodes of such structure are retained correctly oriented relative to electrodes of opposite polarity.

Another object is to suspend such an energized electrode structure through one or more rigid elongated members each rigidly connected to an electrode support plate across the top of a corresponding cylindrical insulator, thus supporting the weight of the electrode in a manner to prevent tipping of the electrode support plate on the insulator while inducing compressive forces in the insulator as distinct from tension forces therein.

A further object of the invention is to support the lower end of such a cylindrical insulator in the entrapment space lCe of an insulator housing structure depending from the top of the container. In instances where flow of treated oil from the treating passages of the grid electrode is metered by the holes of a metering plate, as in my prior application, it is an object to employ an insulator housing structure that traverses the upper or treated-oil zone of the treater and extends between the metering plate and the top wall ofthe container.

Another object of the invention is to position the one or more suspension insulators of an electric treater in such manner as to be readily accessible for inspection or replacement from a position outside the container. Another object is to provide a high-voltage inlet bushing in the same entrapment space as a suspension insulator so that either may be inspected or replaced from a position outside the container. In those instances Where an inert gas is used to protect the bushing a single body of inert gas can be employed to protect both the bushing and the suspension insulator.

The construction and installation of a large grid or bank of cell-forming electrodes presents various problems. In forming treating passages of square cross-section planar members must be secured together at right angles. If these members are assembled outside the container the resulting grid can be placed therein only if the container is open at one end, requiring subsequent welding of a head on the container to close it. Later repair or replacement of such a grid usually requires cutting the container and rewelding the head.

It is an object of the invention to provide a grid-like electrode structure that is made up of elements sized to pass through a man-hole of the container and that can be assembled therein into the desired grid-like form. In this and other connections it is an object to provide an electrode structure made up of a plurality of spaced partition panels bridged by divider members dividing the spaces between adjacent panels into side-by-side cells. A further object is to provide means detachably connecting such panels and divider members. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, this means is preferably such that the grid-like electrode structure can be assembled in the container largely from one end of the structure, eg. by a single workman present in the entrance zone of the container. Each partition panel is preferably made up of partition members that can be progressively assembled edge to edge within the container to form a complete partition panel.

Other objects of the invention reside in. the provision of novel means for supporting the partition panels at their edges and for locating the ends of the divider members that are positioned between such partition panels.

In another or smaller embodiment of the invention it is an object of the invention to employ one or more cylindrical partitions with substantially radial divider members dividing annular spaces into cellular treating passages having outwardly diverging side Walls.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an electric treater incorporating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the cylindrical insulator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the preferred construction of the grid-like electrode structure;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views at the tops of the cells, taken along corresponding lines of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the invention as installed in a horizontal electric treater;

FIG. 8 and 9 are sectional views taken along corresponding lines of FIG. 7;

FIG. l is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. ll is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. and

FIG, 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the foraminous electrode support of FIG. l0 taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. ll.

The electric treater illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 includes a closed container 10 having an upright cylindrical side wall 11 closed by top and bottom walls 12 and 13. The container provides an upper exit or treatedoil zone 15, an intermediate or electrode zone 16 and a lower, entrance or inlet zone 17.

The dispersion to be treated is delivered under pressure to an inlet pipe 18 and is treated in high-voltage fields in the intermediate or electrode zone 16 as will be described. The treated oil leaves the container through an efuent pipe 19 in known manner and the dispersed particles of the emulsion that are coalesced or electrophoresed by the fields gravitate to the bottom of the container, forming a body 20 of separated dispersed-phase material. The separated material is withdrawn through a pipe 21 preferably under the control of a flow-control means adapted to maintain at a constant level the interfacial zone 22 at the top of the body 20. This control system may include a oat housing or shield 23 with its upper and lower ends respectively open to the material above and below the interfacial zone 22 so as to establish an interface 24 therein. A float 25 is operatively connected to a valve 26 in the pipe 21 through any suitable connection indicated by the dotted line 27.

During `fabrication of the container 10 a circular plate is inserted. This plate is of a diameter to separate spacially or pressurally the upper and intermediate zones 15 and 16. It can be welded to the side wall 11 or attached thereto by brackets 31. It is desirably a relatively thin metal plate rigidified by two parallel angle-iron members 32. Closed man-hole nozzles 33 and 34 respectively provide access to the upper and lower ones 15 and 17 disposed on opposite sides of the plate 30.

A deep grid-type electrode structure 36 is later installed in the intermediate or electrode zone 16. It provides a plurality of upright side-by-side passages separated by thin metal walls. The lower ends of these passages open on the lower or inlet zone 17 and the upper ends thereof terminate at the plate 30. In the embodiment illustrated the central upright passage constitutes an electrodesupport passage 38 aligned with and open at its top through a central opening 39 of the plate 30. ln larger-size treaters three or more electrode-support passages 38 grouped around the central axis may be employed. All of the upright passages other than the one or more electrode support passages constitute treating passages 40 having their upper ends communicating with the upper zone 15 through metering holes or orices 42 in the plate 30.

As will be apparent from FIG. 3, all of the treating passages 40 that are inward of the periphery of the electrode structure 36 are substantially square in cross-section. Those treating passages at the periphery are of less regular crosssection as the result of the curvature of the cylindrical side wall 11 which bounds them. All of the treating passages 40 are long in their axial dimension being typically several feet in length and ranging commercially from about 2-8 lfeet or more in length. Conversely the width of the square passages is a matter of inches, typically ranging commercially from about 4-16 inches across.

The electrode structure 36 includes a plurality of parallel spaced partition panels each preferably segmented and made up of a plurality 0f partition members 45u-45d that can be progressively assembled and bolted together by use of straps 46. The partition members are held together edge to edge, preferably in a single plane although the edges may overlap if desired. Each partition member is of a width to pass through the man-hole nozzle 341.

The uppermost partition member 45a is suitably bolted to the plate 30 by suitable attachment members each of which may be an angle bracket, clip or a I -bolt shown in FIG. 5. Each of the uppermost partition members provides a pair of openings 47 inwardly of the top edge thereof spaced laterally a distance equal to paired electrodeattachment openings 48 through the plate 30. The latter openings preferably continue through the angle-iron members 32 so that these members and the plate 30 provide electro-attachment openings arranged in pairs along equally spaced parallel lines. A I-bolt 50 has its hook portion extending through a corresponding opening 47 and its threaded shank portion extending through the electrodeattachment opening 4S with a nut 51 threaded thereon. The nuts 51 are turned to bring the tops of the partition members 45a closely adjacent the bottom of the plate 30, e.g., into contact therewith or within 1/s thereof. All of the upper partition members 45a are thus first installed after which the one or more lower partition members of each partition panel are installed. The partition members are attached in progressive tiers or layers until the partition panels 45 are completed. The resulting partition panels extend between opposite portions of the side wall 11 and are chordal if this side wall is cylindrical.

A plurality of divider members 54 are then inserted upward in the space between each pair of partition panels to divide this space into the aforesaid upright passages. Each divider member is of a width equal to the distance across such space and of a length generally equal to the height of the partition panels 45 although it may be slightly shorter or longer than such height without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

The upper end of each divider member 54 is preferably held in place by providing means thereon extending through locating openings 55 through the plate 30, these locating openings being arranged in parallel lines be tween the lines of the electrode-attachment openings 48. In the preferred arrangement pins 56 are welded to the tops of the divider members 54 and slip upward through the locating openings 55 to locate and space the tops of the divider members. Similar pins are mounted on the outermost four divider members Sita-54d of FIG. 3 that are of different width to extend to the cylindrical side wall 11. The pins on these four divider members are preferably threaded and receive nuts 57 (FIG. 3) to provide additional support.

Each of the divider members 54 is preferably a sheet metal strip having a ange 58 along one edge. Near its bottom end this flange provides an opening aligning with one of a series of openings 59 (FIG. 4) in the lowermost partition member 45d. A bolt 60 (FIG, 6), accessible from the inlet zone 17 passes through the aligned openings and determines the spacing of the lower ends of the divider members 54. Optionally an angle bracket 62 at the opposite side of each divider member may be employed to bolt its lower end to the adjacent partition panel 45. Similar angle brackets can be used at the top to substitute for the J-bolts 50. Each divider member is thus removably bridged between adjacent partition panels and extends substantially at right angles thereto. It will thus be apparent that the entire grid-type electrode structure 36 can be progressively assembled and disassembled within the container 10.

An insulator housing structure 65 (FIG. l) is welded or otherwise secured to the top wall 12 and extends to the plate 30 coaxial with the corresponding opening 39 of the this plate being secured to the plate by welding or other means. This structure may be made of one piece or may comprise upper, intermediate and lower sections or members 65a, 65b and 65C as shown. A laterally-extending metering or flow-control passage 66 may be provided through the lower member 65e to permit a small flow of the dispersion upward through the electrode-support passage 38 but is usu-ally not required or desired whether or not such a passage 66 is used.

The interior of the insulator housing structure 65 provides the lower end of an entrapment space 67 that opens on the electrode-support passage 38 through the opening 39. The top of this entrapment space is closed by a removable cover 68 secured to the top of a flanged nozzle 69 extending upward from the top wall 12 with its interior forming a continuation of the entrapment space 67.

An insulator support ring 70 is mounted within the entrapment space 67, as by being supported on legs 71 extending upward from the intermediate member 6511. This insulator support ring 70 provides an upper face 72 which may be formed with a centering ange 72a. A cylindrical insulator 74 of relatively large diameter provides a lower annular face resting on the upper face 72 and an upper annular face supporting an electrode-support plate 76 bridged thereacross. This support plate may have side openings 77 and a central opening 78. Its upper surface preferably slopes toward the openings 77 to drain away from the inner surface of the insulator any mate- `rial or condensates dropping on the support plate. An

elongated electrode support member 80 extends through the central opening 78 yand is rigidly connected to the support plate 76 as by nuts 81. The outer diameter of the cylindrical insulator 74 is at least several inches so as to provide lateral stability for the electrode support plate 76 against tipping. The wall thickness of the cylindrical insulator is only a small fraction of such outer diameter. The inner diameter of the cylindrical insulator 74 is also a matter of several inches and provides a wide annular space 82 around the elongated electrode-support member 80. In commercial practice cylindrical insulators of an external diameter of 8 inches or more and a wall thickness ranging from a fraction of an inch to one inch or `elements against turning. In this connection the isulator support ring 70 is shown as providing opposed upstanding pins 83 tting into corresponding holes at the bottom of the cylindrical insulator. Likewise the electrode support plate 76 provides opposed pins 83 depending into corresponding holes at the top of the insulator.

A high-voltage entrance bushing 85 (FIG. 1) traverses Vand is connected to the removable cover 68 and has its lower end exposed to the entrapment space 67. The central conductor 86 of this bushing has its upper end connected to a high-voltage source 87 through any suitable cable or conduit 88. The lower end of the central `conductor 86 is connected to the elongated electrode-support member 80 by any suitable detachable conductor means, shown as including a spring 90 compressed between the uppermost nut 81 and a floating head 92 which is movable relative to the electrode support member 80 `and connected in telescoping relationship therewith. The

spring 90 maintains the floating plate 92 in engagement with -a contact 93 electrically connected to the bottom of the central conductor 86 of the inlet bushing. Both the cylindrical insulator 74 and the bushing 85 are accessible from a position outside the container by removing the cover 68.

The elongated electrode support member 80 is desirably a rigid member of a length to extend through the corresponding electrode-support passage 38 into the lower `zone 17 where it supports a foraminous structure 95. The

latter may comprise transverse bars 96 with pairs of upper and lower angles 97 and 98 respectively thereabove and therebelow. Holes are drilled through the angles in vertical alignment to receive upstanding rod electrodes 100 extending upward in the treating passages and having upper ends termin-ating below the plate 30. Each treating passage of square cross section is shown as having one rod electrode 100 at its center. Some treating passages at the periphery are laterally elongated and are shown as containing two rod electrodes side by side and relatively closely spaced, creating a field pattern very similar to that which would be created by a round-sided bar occupying the same cross section as the two rods and the space therebetween. A single metering orifice suflices for any such laterally elongated treating passage.

The foraminous structure and the rod electrodes 100 constitute an energized electrode maintained by the source 87 at a potential several thousand volts higher than the potential of the grounded container 10. Voltage gradients in the treating passages 40 are usually in the range of about 6-30 kv./inch. The rod electrodes 100 may be solid or tubular and may range in diameter from about .25 inch to a large fraction of the cell width. The treating spaces within the cells around the rod electrodes should desirably have Ia large length-to-gap ratio. This ratio will usually be in the range of about 12-25 in commercial treaters but can be in the range of about 8-30 or more. Treating rates and other relationships can be as vdisclosed in the prior application supra which also discloses typical examples of the operation of a treater of the type herein disclosed.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1-6 it will be apparent that the large cylindrical insulator 74 prevents lateral swinging of the energized electrode. This is due in part to the large-diameter support provided by the cylindrical insulator for the electrode Support plate 76 and in part due to the rigid connection of the latter to the rigid elongated support memfber 80. Likewise the pins 83 lock the cylindrical insulator against `turning relative both to the insulator support ring 70 and the electrode support plate 76. 'Ihe rod electrodes thus remain accurately aligned with the treating passages *because the structure resists disalignment that would result from lateral shifting of the foraminous structure 95 or turning thereof about the longitudinal axis of the container 10.

The inlet pipe 18 turns upward in the inlet zone 17 and carries an annular plate 102. Threaded rods 103 are bolted thereto and to a disc 104 which deliects the incoming dispersion outwardly as shown by the arrows of FIG. l. The resulting distributor spreads the dispersion while inducing thereon no more than an extremely small pressure drop. The enclosed space formed by the two plates reduces the velocity of the incoming stream so it will iiow into the lower zone 17, FIG. l, with a minimum of turbulance in this zone. The dispersion rising in the lcontainer 10 lls the cross section thereof and is divided between the treating passages 40 for electric treatment therein. The treated oil leaves the top of the passages through the metering holes 42 which developed a significant pressure drop on the rising liquid to equalize the forward ilow in the various treating passages. This pressure drop should be substantially highyer than any small pressure drop induced by the distributor. Normally there will be a pressure drop of about 2-24 oz./sq. in. across the metering plate 30.

It is often desirable to establish a preliminary electric iield in the inlet zone 17 to treat the dispersion before it is divided fbetween the tre-ating passages 40. The -foraminous structure 95 may itself establish an electric eld between it and the interfacial zone 22, as in FIG.

10 to be described. However it is desirable to employ a pretreating electrode 106 adjustable in vertical position relative to another pretreating electrode 108 :attached to the foraminous structure 95. The electrodes 106 and 108 may be constructed as in my application supra, including spaced parallel pipes or rods 109. The pretreating electrode 106 is adjustably mounted either as shown in FIG. 10 or by using internally-threaded sleeves 110 receiving the threaded rods 103. By turning these rods in these sleeves the electrode 106 can be raised and lowered while being electrically connected to the grounded container 10` through the distributor.

The lower end of the entrapment space 67 has access to the liquid Within the upper interior of the electrodesupport passage 38. Due in part to the fact that there is a pressure differential -across the plate 30 this liquid will tend to rise in the entrapment 4space 67 and the pressure therein will be higher than the pressure outside the insulator support structure 65 unless a flow control passage 66 is formed in the lower member 65C as mentioned above. If this liquid is relatively free of contaminants it can be permitted to rise in the entrapment space to surround the insulator 74 or to a level therebelow determined by any body of ygas entrapped in the top of the entrapment space 67 and compressed therein by the rising liquid. It will be apparent that an electric eld will be present in the electrode-support passage 38 around the support member 80 and that this field will tend to purify any liquid reaching the entrapment space whether or not a passage 66 is employed.

However if the liquid still contains contaminants that might cause failure of the cylindrical insulator 74 it is desirable to maintain such liquid lbelow the bottom of the insulator. To :accomplish this an inert ga-s may be supplied to the top of the entrapment space through a small line 112 equipped with a valve 113. A body of gas 114 will thus surround and protect the insulator 74 and t-he inwardly exposed portion of the inlet bushing. A gas-liquid interface 115 will thus be established in the lower portion of the insulator support structure 65. The level of this interface can be controlled and maintained substantially constant by establishing a related gas-liquid interface 116 in a level-control structure 117 outside the container, employing small lines 118 and 119 to connect the level control structure to the gas zone of the entrapment space 67 and to the oil within the interior of the container 10. The line 119 `may open on one of the treating passages, as shown, or may open on the lower interior of the insulator housing structure 65 below the interface 115.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate how the invention can be applied to electric treaters of the horizontal-container type. Here the container 120 is a cylindrical 1vessel much longer in horizontal length than in diameter being closed at its ends by heads 122. A quadrilateral Skirt 125 is lsuspended in an intermediate zone of the container above an inlet zone thereof and is made up of paired end walls 126 and paired side walls 127 connected together at the corners of the skirt and forming therewithin a quadrilateral electrode space. While four of the insulator housing structures 65 of FIG. l can be employed the embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 contemplates that at least one of such pairs of walls `should be spaced from the corresponding adjacent walls of the container 120 to provide two or more insulator housing spaces 130 (FIG. 8) outside the skirt. Four of these spaces are preferably pro- .vided near the corresponding four corners of the skirt.

Insulator housing structures 132 depend `from the top of the container respectively in these housing spaces. Each of these can be constructed as previously described but "are yshown with the legs 71 extending upward from a ring 134 mounted in the housing 132. Each housing contains one of the cylindrical insulators 74 with a corresponding elongated electrode support member S0 depending from the open lower end of the housing to support one portion or corner of a quadrilateral foraminous structure 135 from which the rod electrodes 10i) rise as previously described. All of the housings 132 are closed by respective covers 68 and one of these covers mounts the high-voltage inlet bushing 85. Bodies of inert 8 gas may be employed to protect the insulation in each of the housings 132.

The quadrilateral electrode space within the skirt is divided into cellular treating passages by use of partition' panels 45, here all of equal length, with divider members 54- bridged therebetween at positions spaced therealong. The entire volume of the quadrilateral electrode space can thus be divided into cellular passages. The tops thereof are closed by a quadrilateral metering plate having metering holes 141 opening upon the respective passages. This metering plate c-an be rigidied by angle iron members 142, corresponding to the members 32 previously described, and the segmented partition panels 45 attached thereto by I -bolts or angle brackets as previously described. Either the metering plate 140 or the side or end walls of the quadrilateral skirt 125 should extend to the walls of the container 120 to provide a closed upper or treated-oil zone 146 from which treated oil lcan be withdrawn through a pipe 147. As shown, both the paired end walls 126 and the paired side walls 127 extend upward to the arcuate interior face of the container 120 to form the confined treated oil zone 146.

Quadrilateral pretreating electrodes 150 and 152, corresponding to the electrodes 106 and 108, can ybe ernployed with the electrode 150 `supported at positions along its length by two or more of the distributors previously described. The incoming dispersion is divided between these distributors and is forced to rise at equal rates through the treating passages for electric treatment as aforesaid. Separated dispersed-phase material is withdrawn from the container through a pipe 154. The largediameter cylindrical insulators 74 prevent lateral swinging of the suspended energized electrode structure and maintain the rod electrodes 100 accurately positioned in the respective treating passages.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 10-12 is generally similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-6 except for differences in electrode constructions that can be used in smaller-size treaters of diameters up to about 40". Here the electrode-support passage 38 is formed within a central tubular electrode member of circular cross-section. At least one intermediate cylindrical electrode member 162 coaxial with the side wall 11 of the container 10 and the central tubular member 160 divides the annular space therebetween into smaller annular spaces that are traversed by radial divider members 164. These divide the smaller annular spaces into the afore- Said treating passages 40. The inner edges of the two circular series of the radial divider members 164 may be welded to the intermediate cylindrical electrode member 162 and to the central tubular electrode member 160 respectively with their outer edges lying closely adjacent the inner circular walls of the container and the intermediate member 162. The upper edges of the members 162 and 164 may be welded to the bottom of the circular plate 30 which, as before, contains metering holes or orices 42 through which treated oil moves from the treating passages to the upper or treated-oil zone 15. The treating passages are here somewhat pie-shaped in section being bounded inwardly and outwardly by the curved members 11, 162 and 160 and being bounded laterally by opposed divider members 164.

In this embodiment the lower end of the electrodesupport member 80 extends through holes in upper and lower channels and 172 welded diametrically across a large-diameter but short-length ring 174 (FIGS. 10 and 12). Welded to the outer and inner surfaces of this ring are superimposed paired angle brackets 178. Attached thereto by bolts are electrode support strips 182 arranged in superimposed pairs having holes of a diameter to receive the lower ends of the rod electrodes 100, here shown as small pipes. Each rod electrode provides an opening receiving a Cotter-pin 184 resting on the uppermost electrode support strip 182 of the pair.

A lever means is employed to center the rod electrodes 100 in their respective treating passages by adjusting the relative angular orientation of the foraminous electrode support 95 relative to the lower end of the electrode support member 80. This means includes a lever 186 having its inner end pinned or otherwise rigidly attached to the lower end ofthe electrode support member 80. The outer end of the lever 186 traverses a bar 187 welded chordally across the ring 174, When the angular orientation is correctly adjusted the outer end of the lever is fixed to the bar 187 as by a bolt 188.

The foraminous electrode-support structure 95 is here employed as the upper pretreat electrode. The lower pretreating electrode 106 can be constructed as previously described. It is shown with a series of vertically spaced holes 190 through the sleeve 110. Cotter-pins 192 may be placed through these holes at any desired level to be engaged by the tops of the rods 103, which here slide in the sleeve 110. The electrode 106 is thus adjustable in vertical position by changing the position of the Cotterpins192. The construction of the foraminous electrode support 95 shown in FIGS. 10-12 and the manner of adjusting the position of the electrode 106 therein shown can if desired be used with the other embodiments of the invention herein described.

Various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:l

1. An electric treater for treating oil-continuous dispersions to separate particles of a dispersed-phase material dispersed therein, said treater comprising:

Aa container` having upper, intermediate and lower zones, said container providing means for introducing the dispersion into said lower zone, means for withdrawing separated dispersed-phase material from the bottom of said lower zone and means for withdrawing treated oil from said upper zone;

upright electrode members in said intermediate zone electrically connected to said container providing upright side-by-side passages between said lower and upper zones, at least one of said upright passages being an open-top electrode-support passage, the other upright passages being treating passages, all of said passages opening downwardly on said lower zone;

means for metering the flow of treated oil from said treating passages into said upper zone comprising a plate electrically connected to said container traversing the tops of said upright electrode members, said plate providing metering holes for the treated oil moving from said treating passages to said upper zone;

an insulator housing structure interconnecting and extending between the top of said container and said plate in axial alignment with each electrode-support passage providing therein an entrapment space opening on such electrode-support passage through the open top thereof;

an insulator support ring mounted Within the ment space of each insulator housing;

a cylindrical insulator of relatively large diameter having a central passage coaxial with the corresponding insulator support ring and having upper and lower annular faces respectively at its upper and lower ends, said lower face being supported on said insulator support ring;

an electrode support plate bridging across said central passage and supported by said upper annular face;

an elongated electrode support member hung from the center of said electrode support plate of a length to extend therefrom completely through the corresponding electrode-support passage into said lower zone, the outer diameter of said cylindrical insulator being at least several inches to provide lateral staentrapbility for said electrode support plate against tipping, the diameter of said elongated electrode support member being substantially less than the inner diameter of said cylindrical insulator;

a foraminous structure in said lower zone below the lower ends ot said passages electrically connected to and supported by the lower end of such support member;

a plurality of upstanding rod electrodes attached rigidly to said foraminous structure extending upward in said treating passages having upper ends terminating below said plate; and

a high-voltage source of potential having terminals respectively connected to said electrode support member and said upright electrode members establishing high-voltage electric fields in said treating passages.

2. An electric treater as defined in claim 1 in which said insulator housing structure is impervious throughout its length between the top of said container and said plate thereby separating said entrapment space completely from said treated oil in said upper zone.

3. An electric treater as defined in claim 1 in which said insulator housing structure provides a section at the lower end of said entrapment space immediately above said plate, said section having a small flow-control passage opening outwardly on that portion of said upper Zone around said insulator housing structure and opening inwardly on the interior of said insulator housing structure at a level substantially below the lower end of said cylindrical insulator.

4. An electric treater as dened in claim 1 in which said container provides a flanged nozzle above each entrapment space and a removable cover therefor providing access to said cylindrical insulator in such entrapment space.

5. An electric treater as defined in claim 4 in which at least one removable cover includes a bushing opening therein,vand including a high-voltage inlet bushing attached to such cover extending through said bushing opening having a central conductor connected to one terminal of said source, and a conductor means detachably electrically connecting said central conductor and the elongated electrode support member of the corresponding entrapment space.

6. An electric treater as defined in claim 1 in which said electrode support plate provides a central opening, in which said elongated electrode support member is a rigid elongated member extending through said central opening of said electrode support plate, and including means rigidly connecting said rigid elongated member to said electrode support plate, such rigid connecting means and said large-diameter cylindrical insulator resisting swinging of the lower end of said elongated member 'andthe attached foraminous structure.

7. An electric treater for treating oil-continuous dispersions to separate particles of a dispersed-phase material dispersed therein, said treater comprising: i

a container having upper, intermediate and lower zones,

said container providing means for introducing the 'dispersion into said lower zone, means for withdrawing separated dispersed-phase material from the bottom of said lower zone and means for withdrawing treated oil from said upper Zone;

upright electrode members in said intermediate zone electrically connected to said container providing upright side-by-side passages between said lower and upper zones, the central of said passages being an open-top electrode-support passage, the other upright passages ybeing treating passages surrounding said electrode-support passage, all of said passages opening downwardly on said lower zone;

means for metering the flow of treated oil from said treating passages into said upper zone comprising a plate electrically connected to said container traversing the tops of said treating passages, said plate providing metering holes for the treated oil moving from said treating passages to said upper zone, said plate providing a central opening coaxial with said electrode-support passage;

a single insulator housing structure coaxial with said electrode-support passage interconnecting and extending `between the top of said container and said plate providing therein an entrapment space opening on such electrode-support passage through the open top thereof;

a foraminous structure in said lower zone below the lower ends of said passages;

a plurality of upstanding rod electrodes attached rigidly to said foraminous structure extending upward in said treating passages having upper ends terminating below said plate;

a support'member extending upward from the center of said fora-minous structure through said electrode-support passage into said entrapment space;

an insulator in said entrapment space and means for connecting same to said electrode support member, said insulator supporting the weight of said foraminous structure and its upstanding rod electrodes; and

means for supplying a high-voltage current to said electrode support member to establish high-voltage electric fields in said treating passages, said lastnamed means including a high-voltage inlet bushing extending into said entrapment space and having a conductor electrically connected to said electrode support member.

8. An electric treater as defined in claim 7 in which said upright electrode members comprise a plurality of parallel spaced partition panels in said electrode Zone extending between opposed sides of said container, and a plurality of divider members bridging the space between adjacent partition panels forming said treating passages, the outermost treating passages being `bounded by said container.

9. An electric treater as defined in claim 7 in which said container is an upright cylinder having a circular inner wall, and in which said upright electrode members include a central tubular electrode member providing said electrode-support passage and providing a circular outer wall, at least one intermediate cylindrical electrode member coaxial with said central electrode member and said container dividing the space between said circular outer and inner walls into annular spaces, said intermediate electrode member having inner and outer circular walls, and a plurality of radial divider members bridging said annular spaces dividing same into said treating passages, each treating passage being bounded laterally by two opposed radial divider members and radially by opposed segments of two of said circular walls, the outermost treating passages being bounded by said circular inner wall of said container.

10. An electric treater as defined in claim '7 including lever means for adjusting the angular orientation of said foraminous structure and said support member, said lever means including a lever having one end fixed to said support member and another end movable relative to said foraminous structure to change said angular orientation, and means for attaching said other end to said foraminous structure to fix said angular orientation.

11. An electric emulsion treater for treating oil-continuous dispersions to separate particles of a dispersedphase material dispersed therein, said treater comprising:

a closed container providing an upper wall and an insulator housing structure depending therefrom, said housing structure providing an entrapment zone therein;

an insulator support ring mounted within said entrapment zone having an annular surface at its upper end;

a cylindrical insulator of relatively large diameter having a central passage coaxial with said insulator support ring and upper and lower annular faces respectively at its upper and lower ends, said lower annular face being supported by said annular surface;

an electrode support plate bridged across said central passage and supported by said upper annular face of said insulator, the outer diameter of -said cylindrical insulator being at least several inches, the wall thickness of said cylindrical insulator being only a small fraction of such outer diameter and the diameter of said central passage being several inches, any weight hung from said support plate inducing axial cornpression forces in said cylindrical insulator;

an elongated electrode support member made of metal hung from the center of said electrode support plate extending downward in said entrapment space into the interior of said container, said support member being of a diameter much less than the inner diameter of said cylindrical insulator providing a wide annular space within the latter around said support member;

a high-voltage electrode supported by and electrically connected to the bottom of said electrode support member; and

means for energizing said electrode by applying a high voltage thereto to estlablish a dispersion-treating electric field in said container, said container providing rneans for delivering the dispersion to Said electric field, means for withdrawing separated dispersed material from the bottom of said container and means for withdrawing treated oil from the top tof said container.

12. An electric treater as dened in claim 11 in which said annular surface and said upper .and lower faces lie in parallel planes transverse to the axis of said entrapment space, and including interengaging lock means between said annular surface and said lower face preventing turning of said insulator on said support ring and interengaging lock means between said upper face and said support plate preventing turning of the latter relative to said cylindrical insulator.

13. An electric treater as defined in claim 11 in which said upper wall of said container provides an opening coaxial with and opening on the top of said entrapment space, and including closure means for said wall opening, said closure means including a removable plate having an Iopening therein, said energizing means including a highvoltage bushing connected to and traversing said removable plate with its inner portion exposed to said entrapment space, said bushing having a conductor therethrough, land means for detachably connecting said conductor electrically to said elongated electrode support member.

14. An electric treater as defined in claim 13 in which said electrode support plates provides a central opening, and in which said elongated electrode support member is an elongated rigid metallic member traversing such central opening of said support plate having an upper end terminating short of said conductor of said inlet bushing, said detachably connecting means connecting such upper end and such conductor, and including means for rigidly attaching said elongated rigid metallic member to said electrode support plate.

15. An electric treater `as dened in claim 13 in which said lower end of said inlet bushing and said cylindrical insulator are in open communication with each other, the lower end of said insulator housing structure being open to the interior of said container whereby oil-continuous material tends to rise therein, and including means delivering inert gas to said entrapment zone to form a body of ga-s therein surrounding both said cylindrical insulator and said lower end of said inlet bushing forming a gas-oil interface in said entrapment zone, said last-named means including a valve controlling the delivery of said inert gas to said entrapment Zone, means responsive to changes in level of said gas-oil interface and means operatively connecting said responsive means and said valve means maintaining the gas-oil interface at' a level below said lower end of said cylindrical insulator.

16. An electric treater for treating oil-continuous dispersions to separate particles of a dispersed-phase material dispersed therein, said treater comprising:

a closed container having side walls laterally bounding upper, intermediate and lower zones that are large in4 horizontal cross-sectional area, said container providing means for introducing the dispersion into said lower zone, means for withdrawing separated dispersed-phase material from the bottom of said lower zone and means for withdrawing treated oil from said upper zone;

a quadrilateral `skirt suspended in said intermediate zone having paired end walls and paired side walls connected together at the corners of said skirt forming within said skirt a quadrilateral electrode space, at least one of said pairs of walls being spaced from the side walls 'of said container to form insulator housing spaces outside said skirt;

upright electrode members dividing said quadrilateral electrode space into upright side-by-side treating passages openly communicating at their lower ends with said lower zone;

means for metering the ow of treated oil from the tops of said treating passages into said upper zone and for blocking any significant up-ow of dispersion from said lower zone to said upper zone except through said treating passages, said last-named means including a metering plate traversing the top of said quadrilateral skirt closely adjacent the tops of said upright electrode members therein, said metering plate providing restricted metering holes at the tops of said treating passages providing the sole egress of treated oil therefrom to said upper zone;

insulator housing structures extending downwardly from the top of said container respectively in said insulator-housing spaces, each insulator housing structure providing an entrapment space open at its lower end;

an insulator support ring mounted within each entrapment space of each insulator housing structure;

a cylindrical insulator of relatively large diameter in each insulator housing structure having a central passage coaxial with the corresponding insulator support ring and having upper and lower annular faces respectively at its upper and lower ends, said lower face being supported on said insulator support ring;

an electrode support plate for each cylindrical insulator bridged across its central passage and supported by its upper annular face, the outer diameter of each cylindrical insulator being -at least several inches to provide lateral stability for its electrode support plate against tipping;

a rigid elongated member connected to the center of each electrode support plate and of a length to extend through said central passage of said cylindrical insulator and through and from the lower open end of the corresponding insulator housing structure;

a quadrilateral foraminous support structure in said lower zone below the lower ends of said treating passages electrically connected to and supported by the lower ends of said rigid elongated members;

a plurality of upstanding rod electrodes attached rigidly to said foraminous structure extending upward in said treating passages having upper ends terminating below said metering plate; and

a high-voltage source of potential having terminals respectively connected to said upright electrode members and to one of said electrode support members establishing high-voltage electric fields in said treating passages.

17. A grid-like electrode structure for an electric treater for treating oil-continuous dispersions to separate 14 particles of a dispersed-phase material therefrom, said electrode structure including:

walls defining an electrode space having an entrance end and an opposed exit end;

an orifced plate extending across said exit end of said electrode space having electrode-attachment openings therethrough along equally spaced parallel lines;

a plurality of partition panels each having openings inwardly of one edge thereof spaced to correspond to the electrode-attachment openings of a corresponding line;

a plurality of attachment members connecting said partiti-on panels to said plate in spaced parallel relation; and v a plurality of divider members parallel to each other bridged between said partition members at right angles thereto and means for detachably connecting said divider members to said partitions, said divider members dividing the spaces between adjacent partition panels into side-by-side treating passages that are substantially square in cross section, that end of each treating passage adjacent said plate being an exit end, the other ends of said treating passages being open entrance ends, said plate including at least one small flow-metering orifice at the exit end of each treating passage.

18. ln combination in an electric treater for oil-continuous dispersions, said treater having a closed container providing entrance and exit zones with a side-wallbounded intermediate electrode zone therebetween having entrance and exit ends respectively facing said entrance and exit zones, a grid-like electrode structure comprising:

a plate closing the exit end of said intermediate electrode zone and separ-ating same spacially from said exit zone, said plate having metering holes therethrough which said electrode zone communicates with said exit zone, said plate having also a plurality of locating openings therethrough arranged in parallel rows;

a plurality of parallel Ispaced partition panels in said electrode zone extending from side to side thereof parallel to said rows at positions between such rows, each partition panel having an edge adjacent said plate;

.a plurality of divider members bridging the space between adjacent partition panels and dividing such space into side-by-side treating passages, each divider member having one end adjacent said plate;

means extending through said locating openings attaching said ends of said divider members to said plate; and

means at the opposite ends of said divider members detachably attaching same to said partition panels.

19. A combination as defined in claim 18 in which said means for att-aching said one end. of each divider member to said plate includes an end projection extending through a corresponding lone Iof said locating openings.

20. A combination as defined in claim 18 in which each divider member provides a longitudinal flange on one side thereof, and in which said means for connecting said other end of said divider member to corresponding partition panels includes bolt means extending through said flange and one of such partition members and means for connecting the other side of such divider member to the other of such partition panels.

21. In combination in an electric treater for oil-continuous dispersions, said treater having a closed container providing entrance and exit zones with a side-wall-bounded intermediate electrode zone therebetween having entrance and exit ends respectively facing said entrance and exit zones, said closed container providing a man-hole nozzle opening on said entrance zone, a grid-like electrode structure comprising:

a plate closing the exit end of said intermediate elecedge to edge includes at least two straps traversing the trode zone and separating same spacially from said edge-to-edge junction of each pair of adjacent partition exit Zone, said plate having metering holes theremembers and bolts extending through such straps and at through through which said electrode zone comleast one of such adjacent partition members of such pair. municates with said exit zone; 5

a plurality of parallel equally spaced partition panels Refeielces Cited in said electrode zone extending from side to side UNITED STATES PATENTS thereof, each part1t1on panel terminatlng 1n anledge 2,892,768 6/1959 Waterman 204 304 adjacent said plate, each partition panel including a 3 O73 775 1/1963 W t m 204 302 plurality of partition members and means for de- 10 32051 61 9/1965 Ta-er an 204 302 tachably connecting same edge to edge each, parti- 3232860 271966 vlltner 204 306 tion members being of a Width to pass through said 32 a arman man h 01e nozzle and 52,884 5/1966 Martin et al. 204-305 3,269,931 8/1966 Darby 204-302 means for electrically connecting said partition panels and said plate. 15 22. A combination as defined in claim 21 in which said JOHN H' MACK Plmwy Examme" means for detachably connecting said partition members T- TUFARIELLO, ASSSHH Examiner- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,342,720 September 19, 1967 Delber W. Turner It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l, line 27, for "reatcion" read reaction Column 3, line 43, for "ones" read zones Column 4, line 70, for "of the this plate" read of this plate Column 5, line 47, for "isulator" read insulator column l2, line 32, for "tof" read of line 54, for "plates" read plate column I4, line 38, for "therethrough which" read therethrough through which Column l5, line ll, for "edge to edge each," read edge to edge, each line l2, for "members" read member Signed and sealed this 22nd day of October 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN ELECTRIC TREATER FOR TREATING OIL-CONTINUOUS DISPERSIONS TO SEPARATE PARTICLES OF A DISPERSED-PHASE MATERIAL DISPERSED THEREIN, SAID TREATER COMPRISING: A CONTAINER HAVING UPPER, INTERMEDIATE AND LOWER ZONES, SAID CONTAINER PROVIDING MEANS FOR INTRODUCING THE DISPERSION IN TO SAID LOWER ZONE, MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING SEPARATED DISPERSED-PHASE MATERIAL FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID LOWER ZONE AND MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING TREATED OIL FROM SAID UPPER ZONE; UPRIGHT ELECTODE MEMBERS IN SAID INTERMEDIATE ZONE ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CONTAINER PROVIDING UPRIGHT SIDE-BY-SIDE PASSAGES BETWEEN SAID LOWER AND UPPER ZONES, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID UPRIGHT PASSAGES BEING AN OPEN-TOP ELECTRODE-SUPPORT PASSAGE, THE OTHER UPRIGHT PASSAGES BEING TREATING PASSAGES, ALL OF SAID PASSAGES OPENING DOWNWARDLY ON SAID LOWER ZONE; MEANS FOR METERING THE FLOW OF TREATED OIL FROM SAID TREATING PASSAGES INTO SAID UPPER ZONE COMPRISING A PLATE ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CONTAINER TRAVERSING THE TOPS OF SAID UPRIGHT ELECTRODE MEMBERS, SAID PLATE PROVIDING METERING HOLES FOR THE TREATED OIL MOVING FROM SAID TREATING PASSAGES TO SAID UPPER ZONE; AN INSULATOR HOUSING STRUCTURE INTERCONNECTING AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE TOP OF SAID CONTAINER AND SAID PLATE IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH EACH ELECTRODE-SUPPORT PASSAGE PROVIDING THEREIN AN ENTRAPMENT SPACE OPENING ON SUCH ELECTRODE-SUPPORT PASSAGE THROUGH THE OPEN TOP THEREOF; AN INSULATOR SUPPORT RING MOUNTED WITHIN THE ENTRAPMENT SPACE OF EACH INSULATOR HOUSING; A CYLINDRICAL INSULATOR OF REALTIVELY LARGE DIAMETER HAVING A CENTRAL PASSAGE COAXIAL WITH THE CORRESPONDING INSULATOR SUPPORT RING AND HAVING UPPER AND LOWER ANNULAR FACES RESPECTIVELY AT ITS UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, SAID LOWER FACE BEING SUPPORTED ON SAID INSULATOR SUPPORT RING; AN ELECTRODE SUPPORT PLATE BRIDGING ACROSS SAID CENTRAL PASSAGE AND SUPPORTED BY SAID UPPER ANNULAR FACE; AN ELONGATED ELECTRODE SUPPORT MEMBER HUNG FROM THE CENTER OF SAID ELECTODE SUPPORT PLATE OF A LENGTH TO EXTEND THEREFROM COMPELTELY THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING ELECTRODE-SUPPORT PASSAGE INTO SAID LOWER ZONE, THE OUTER DIAMETER OF SAID CYLINDIRCAL INSULATOR BEING AT LEAST SEVERAL INCHES TO PROVIDE LATERAL STABILITY FOR SAID ELECTRODE SUPPORT PLATE AGAINST TIPPING, THE DIAMETER OF SAID ELONGATED ELECTRODE SUPPORT MEMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE INNER DIAMETER OF SAID CYLINDRICAL INSULATOR; A FORAMINOUS STRUCUTRE IN SAID LOWER ZONE BELOW THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID PASSAGES ELECTICALLY CONNECTED TO AND SUPPORTED BY THE LOWER END OF SUCH SUPPORT MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDING ROD ELECTRODES ATTACHED RIGIDLY TO SAID FORAMINOUS STRUCTURE EXTENDING UPWARD IN SAID TREATING PASSAGES HAVING UPPER ENDS TERMINATING BELOW SAID PLATE; AND A HIGH-VOLTAGE SOURCE OF POTENTIAL HAVING TERMINALS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ELECTRODE SUPPORT MEMBER AND SAID UPRIGHT ELECTRODE MEMBERS ESTABLISHING HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS IN SAID TREATING PASSAGES. 